Improved blind and shutter fastener



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM CBIGHTON, OF FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVED BLIND AND SHUTTER FASTENER.

To all whom tt may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM CRIGHTON, of Fall River, in the county ot' Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented anew and Improved VindOw Blind and Shutter Fastening; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being' had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is an outer view of a windowblind with my improvement applied toit; Fig. 2, a vertical section of the same, taken in the line :v x, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two tigures.

This invention consists in the employment or use of two plates of precisely similar form itted on a pin in a socket, which is inserted in the lower edge of a blind or shutter and arranged in such a manner that the blind or shutter will become fastened when thrown open or when closed, and the fastening, when the blind or shutter is closed, not admitting ot' being unt'astened from the outer side of the latter, but from the inner side only, but admitting of being nnt'astened when the blind or shutter is secured in an open state. By this arrangement, a very simple, economical, and durable blind and shutter fasteningis obtained, all springs being avoided, as well as other parts liable to get out of repair or become deranged by use.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully` understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents a window'blind, which may be constructed and hung in the usual way to the window.

B is a metal socket formed ot' a base-plate, a, and the two upright sides b b, the latter being fitted in a square recess, o, made lin the lower edge ot' the blind A,thebase-platea being screwed to the bottom of the blind. The base-plate a has a vertical pin, b', titted in it, said pin extending up into the blind above the recess o, as shown in Fig. 2.

C C are two metal plates, each of which is perforated with a hole, d, near its inner end. These plates are fitted loosely on the pin b', the latter passing through the holes c7. The inner ends of the plates C C overlap, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, and the plate G projects from the inner side of the blind upon the sill D of the window when the blind is S peoilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 42,929,v dated May 31, 1864.

of the plate C enabling said plate to catchA on a vertical pin. f, in the sill D ot' the window when the blind closes, and the hole in the plate C admitting of said plate catching on a hook, g, in the side of the building as the blind reaches a fullyopen position. The plates C C drop on this pin and hook by their own gravity.

From the above description it will be seen that no springs of any kind are required; and it will further be seen that when the blind is in a closed state that it cannot be unfastened from its outer side, as the plate C', which projects from the outer side ot' the blind, is above plate C, and isincapable of raising the latter oit from its pin f; but when the blind is fastened in an open state the plate C may be readily lifted oft' from its hook g by actuating plate C, as the innerV end i ot' the latter is underneath the plate C. Thus the device forms a lock to prevent the blind from being illegitimately opened from its outer side when closed, and at the same time admits of the blind being readily unfastened from the inner side when closed, and also readily unfastened when secured in an open state.

I am aware that numerous examples exist of shuttenfastenings which admit ot' being released from the opposite side when the shutter is open, and not when it is closed; but I know of no previous instance in which a pair ot' plates ot' simple and similar form have been made to operate in this way with out the assistance of a spring.

The advantages ot my invention are,its simplicity and cheapness, combined with full efficiency.

Havingthus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the two similarlyformed plates C C with apertures d e, thepins b', f, and g', andthe socket a b c, all constructed, arranged, and operating in the man, ner and for the purposes herein specified.

WILLIAM GBIGHTON.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM G. BORDEN, JoIIN SoU'rHwoaTH. 

